In this document dated 25 February 1461, James, Bishop of Moray creates a perpetual chaplaincy to St Michael in the Parish Church of Inverness, in order to pray for the souls of James II and his wife, Mary and various other Inverness burgesses.

The image shows the front of the document.

In Charles Fraser-Mackintosh's 1875 publication, 'Invernessiana: Contributions Toward a History of the Town and Parish of Inverness, from 1160 to 1599' (pp 140-141), the document is translated from the original Latin thus:

[For a glossary of some of the terms used in the Inverness burgh documents please follow the link towards the foot of this page]

'James, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Moray, to all and sundry the sons of Holy Mother Church, to whose notice the present letters shall come; Greeting in him who is the true salvation of all: Know that we, for the praise and glory of God omnipotent, the Blessed Mother Mary, St Michael the Archangel, and all saints, have created, and by Pontifical authority, of new have erected a perpetual chaplaincy in the Parochial Church of Inverness, to the altar of St Michael the Archangel in the same, for one chaplain to perform divine worship there for ever, for the souls of the most serene Prince and Lord, our Lord James Second, by the divine clemency of God, King of Scots, and Queen Mary, his spouse, and for the souls of William Buthe, burgess of Inverness, and Marion Muren, his spouse, and of Alexander Vaus, burgess of said burgh, and of Janet Buthe, his spouse, and for the souls of their predecessors and successors, and of all the faithful dead, to which chaplainship we have attached, and by the same authority have also united for ever, all and sundry lands, tenements, acres, crofts, and annual rents, acquired by the saids William, Marion, Alexander, and Janet, of their own conquest, and assigned to said chaplainship as well, lying within, as without said burgh, according as is contained more fully, and specially expressed, in other letters made thereupon: Which chaplainship, with all its rights and pertinents, by the request and devout supplication of the saids William Buthe, and Marion his spouse, and from a consideration of love to John Genour, bearer of these presents, of the constituted order of acolytes, with respect to whom by our foresaid authority, by the tenor of these presents we dispense in the premises according to our mercy, with the holy orders not undertaken at the time by right, and having regard for his time only to the presentation of the said William Buthe, and to our collation, we confer upon him, and by the same also provide for him, and by delivery of our ring, we have inducted and invested him partially with the same by committing to him specially the cure and administration thereof: Which John, and all chaplains, his successors, for ever in foresaid chaplainship, we will, and appoint, to be engaged in the celebration of the office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on all Sabbath days in ecclesiastical garb with note, in said Church, and also at vespers on said days, and in the celebration of the offices of the greater and second vespers on all days, both Sundays and festivals, and on the six holidays, at the altar of the Holy Cross in foresaid Church, with the other chaplains of said Church therein engaged, and also bound: Wherefore, we commit to, and command you, Lord Patrick Flegear, dean of our Christianity of Inverness, from regard to holy obedience, and by the tenor of these presents, that you induct and invest the foresaid John Genour, or his procurator in his name, in, and to real, actual and corporeal possession of said chaplainship, and of all the rights and pertinents thereof, and being canonically invested and inducted that you defend him by curbing contradictors and rebels, if by chance there shall be any, sharply, by ecclesiastical censure, and in sign of your investiture and giving of possession to him, append your seal on the second tail after ours to these presents to remain for ever with foresaid investiture. Given under our round seal at our Canonry of Elgin, the 25th day of the month of February, in the year of the Lord 1461. Present - these Lords, Thomas Boile and David Andrew, perpetual vicars of the Churches of Duffus and Kynore; Adam Fores and John Layng chaplains; James Stewart and Andrew Mure, squires and our friends, with many witnesses required to the premises.'

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INVERNESS: Inverness and Bona

1460s

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

Inverness Burgh Documents (1)

In this document dated 25 February 1461, James, Bishop of Moray creates a perpetual chaplaincy to St Michael in the Parish Church of Inverness, in order to pray for the souls of James II and his wife, Mary and various other Inverness burgesses.<br />
<br />
The image shows the front of the document.<br />
<br />
In Charles Fraser-Mackintosh's 1875 publication, 'Invernessiana: Contributions Toward a History of the Town and Parish of Inverness, from 1160 to 1599' (pp 140-141), the document is translated from the original Latin thus:<br />
<br />
[For a glossary of some of the terms used in the Inverness burgh documents please follow the link towards the foot of this page]<br />
<br />
'James, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Moray, to all and sundry the sons of Holy Mother Church, to whose notice the present letters shall come; Greeting in him who is the true salvation of all: Know that we, for the praise and glory of God omnipotent, the Blessed Mother Mary, St Michael the Archangel, and all saints, have created, and by Pontifical authority, of new have erected a perpetual chaplaincy in the Parochial Church of Inverness, to the altar of St Michael the Archangel in the same, for one chaplain to perform divine worship there for ever, for the souls of the most serene Prince and Lord, our Lord James Second, by the divine clemency of God, King of Scots, and Queen Mary, his spouse, and for the souls of William Buthe, burgess of Inverness, and Marion Muren, his spouse, and of Alexander Vaus, burgess of said burgh, and of Janet Buthe, his spouse, and for the souls of their predecessors and successors, and of all the faithful dead, to which chaplainship we have attached, and by the same authority have also united for ever, all and sundry lands, tenements, acres, crofts, and annual rents, acquired by the saids William, Marion, Alexander, and Janet, of their own conquest, and assigned to said chaplainship as well, lying within, as without said burgh, according as is contained more fully, and specially expressed, in other letters made thereupon: Which chaplainship, with all its rights and pertinents, by the request and devout supplication of the saids William Buthe, and Marion his spouse, and from a consideration of love to John Genour, bearer of these presents, of the constituted order of acolytes, with respect to whom by our foresaid authority, by the tenor of these presents we dispense in the premises according to our mercy, with the holy orders not undertaken at the time by right, and having regard for his time only to the presentation of the said William Buthe, and to our collation, we confer upon him, and by the same also provide for him, and by delivery of our ring, we have inducted and invested him partially with the same by committing to him specially the cure and administration thereof: Which John, and all chaplains, his successors, for ever in foresaid chaplainship, we will, and appoint, to be engaged in the celebration of the office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on all Sabbath days in ecclesiastical garb with note, in said Church, and also at vespers on said days, and in the celebration of the offices of the greater and second vespers on all days, both Sundays and festivals, and on the six holidays, at the altar of the Holy Cross in foresaid Church, with the other chaplains of said Church therein engaged, and also bound: Wherefore, we commit to, and command you, Lord Patrick Flegear, dean of our Christianity of Inverness, from regard to holy obedience, and by the tenor of these presents, that you induct and invest the foresaid John Genour, or his procurator in his name, in, and to real, actual and corporeal possession of said chaplainship, and of all the rights and pertinents thereof, and being canonically invested and inducted that you defend him by curbing contradictors and rebels, if by chance there shall be any, sharply, by ecclesiastical censure, and in sign of your investiture and giving of possession to him, append your seal on the second tail after ours to these presents to remain for ever with foresaid investiture. Given under our round seal at our Canonry of Elgin, the 25th day of the month of February, in the year of the Lord 1461. Present - these Lords, Thomas Boile and David Andrew, perpetual vicars of the Churches of Duffus and Kynore; Adam Fores and John Layng chaplains; James Stewart and Andrew Mure, squires and our friends, with many witnesses required to the premises.'<br />
<br />
Accession Number: INVMG 2002.154 <br />
<br />
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